Awsome Arts
Awesome Arts is a community
engaged program that allows
participants of all ages to
explore issues important to
their community through the
arts. Held in partnership with
community organizations,
Awesome Arts offers an
exciting series of workshops
for different age groups that
culminate in a public
celebration.
“I don’t know where I would have
gone in life if it wasn’t for the kind
of programming Awesome Arts
offered me as a teen. It was my
escape route for a lot of the
difficulties I was experiencing. I found that it
brought me healthier ways to express my
frustrations, it gave me a space to laugh and write
even if it was once a week. Art is a form of
therapy for people like me that didn’t have the
opportunity to talk to professionals through
rough times. I can honestly say Awesome Arts
saved me in a way.”
Akuol Luala has been involved in the Awesome
Arts program for 10 years and has now joined
the MASC Board.
“Hi everyone. Our names are Sofia and Emma,
we’re sisters, twins in fact. We feel so lucky to
have been involved with many MASC activities
and events over the past 6 years. MASC does
amazing work with students both in and out of
schools. They bring professional artists to teach
dance, visual arts, songwriting, spoken word
poetry and much more!
At our school, Viscount Alexander, the Sandy Hill
Community Health Centre and MASC organize an
Awesome Arts program on Thursday evenings in
the Fall, that they provide for free for all kids in
the community! Every year they change it up with
different activities to choose from. This allows
kids who might never be able to afford lessons in
dance or music or art to be able to learn so
much. It also gives kids a way to express their
feelings, and for the community to come
together.
This year, we were reunited with a group of girls
that are now in grade 7. We had a blast, practicing
our dance, sharing our personalities and
performing. All the kids at Viscount even had the
chance to help paint a permanent mural with one
of the MASC artists! At the end of these
workshops, there is always a big Awesome Arts
Festival. We all perform on stage and show what
we’ve learned. Then we watch the professionals
perform, too! It really is awesome!
MASC has helped us, and many of our friends,
learn that we can express ourselves through
dance, song, poetry, writing and drawing, and
gain confidence in who we are. Activities like
Awesome Arts make you feel like you belong in
the community, and give many kids who wouldn’t
be able to, the chance to participate in the arts.
As the Bboyizm dance group taught us: we
dance to express, not to impress; and that is
what the MASC organization stands for.
Thanks to MASC and everyone who supports it!
Emma and Sofia
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